Kansas ESGR visits National Capital Region

  • Published
  • By Capt. Rebecca A. Garcia
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  Kansas employers of Reserve and National Guard servicemembers visited the National Capital Region to tour Department of Defense facilities, Aug 17-20.  As part of their visit, the employers toured the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve headquarters, the Air National Guard Headquarters and Joint Base Andrews units.

The event was hosted by the Kansas ESGR, a Department of Defense committee with a mission to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflict through mediation.

The 19 Kansas employers flew here on a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 190th Air Refueling Wing, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Kan. After landing, they viewed the process of reconfiguring the KC-135R with patient pallets used for Aeromedical Evacuation missions.

The four-day tour also included viewing the changing of the guard at the Arlington National Cemetery, a tour of the Pentagon, a demonstration by the 316th Security Forces Squadron working dogs and handlers and a C-130 aircraft static display at the Naval Air Facility here.

One employer thought the tour of the C-130 and the mission briefing helped him feel closer to his son who is on active-duty with the Navy.

"I really enjoyed the hospitality of the military. It was definitely a day out of the ordinary," said Mr. Sam Cline, Hutchinson Correctional Facilities warden and employer of Reservists and National Guardsmen. "It helped me better understand what he [his son] does. I appreciated that because it helped me connect more deeply with my Sailor."

Lt. Cdr. Patrick Thompson, a Navy Liaison Officer here, said the visit by employers like Mr. Cline gave the Navy an opportunity to share their mission and highlight the accomplishments of their active-duty and Reserve members.

"There are approximately 3200 Navy Reservists assigned in the Navy District Washington Region that we support, and these members are crucial to virtually all aspects and components of Naval operations," said Commander Thompson.

Employers can be nominated for military events, or an ESGR orientation flight like this one, by their employee/Reservist or National Guardsmen. Information can be requested about upcoming events through National Guard and Reserve unit public affairs offices.